Tie draper



April 14 1959 E. A. HEALY 2,88

TIE DRAPER Fild June 19, 1956 I38 S] Eugene A. Hea/y IN VEN TOR. 36 v I BY M @ELVJ F M United States Patent TIE DRAPER Eugene A. Healy, Brooklyn, N.Y. Application June 19, 1956, Serial No. 592,326 4 Claims. (Cl. 2-157) This invention generally relates to a tie spreader and more particularly to'a device for attachment to a knotted tie having inner and outer depending strands for retaining the strands in overlying relation and for spreading the outer strand and retaining the same in a smooth and neat condition, the outer strand of the tie which depends in front of the shirt being held in a properly draped condition with a smooth outer surface, whereby the device is especially useful in improving the appearance of ties which have become wrinkled and saggy.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a tie spreader which may be easily attached to a tie after it has been tied in position for retaining the outer strand in proper position and smooth condition.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of assembly, adaptation for its particular purposes and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a partial perspective view of a tie with the tie spreader of the present invention installed thereon;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of construction of the tie spreader;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tie spreader per se; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure 3 illustrating the details of the clamp and the relationship thereof to the cross bar.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the tie spreader of the present invention for association with a tie generally designated by the numeral 12 which includes a knot 14 disposed between the upper edges of the collar wings or tips 16 with an inner strand 18 and an outer strand 20 depending from the knot 14 in the usual manner.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the outer strand 20 is provided with two thicknesses of material designated by the numerals 22 and 24 and the inner strand 18 is also constructed of two thicknesses of material 26 and 28.

The tie spreader 10 includes a cross bar 30 which is slightly rearwardly curved and provided with a convex forward surface 32. A perpendicularly arranged depending arm 34 is integrally formed with the cross bar 30 and extends vertically therebelow with the lower end of the arm 34 being provided with a rearwardly projecting pointed pin 36 having a frictionally engaged keeper 38 thereon.

On the cross bar 30 adjacent each end thereof clamp means is generally designated by the numeral 40, is provided and the clamp means 40 includes a pair of pivotally mounted jaws 42 having a hinge pin 44 interconnecting "ice the same. The jaws 42 are each provided with a handle portion 46 extending upwardly and over the respective top and bottom surfaces of the cross bar 30. The matching edges of the jaws 42 are provided with serrations 48 and a spring device 50 is provided for urging the jaws 42 together in clamping engagement with the rear thickness 24 of the outer strand 20 and the spacing between the handle portion 46 and the bar 30 permits pivotal movement of the jaws 42 away from each other during the clamping operation. An integral extension of the pivot pin designated by the numeral 52 may be provided for embedding the cross bar 32 thereby mountingthe clamp means 40 thereon.

When using the device, the cross bar 30 is disposed behind the outer strand 20 in substantially horizontal relation and by engaging the handle portions 46, the gripping edges 48 of the jaws 42 may be arranged in gripping relation to the rear thickness 24 of the material of the outer strand 20, thereby mounting the tie spreader 10 behind the outer strand 20. The cross bar 30 together with the clamp means 40 retains the outer strand 20 in spread or stretched condition thereby providing a smooth and generally convex outer surface on the outer strand 20. The pointed pin 36 is inserted or penetrated through both thicknesses 26 and 28 of the rear strand 18 and the keeper 38 is positioned thereon for retaining the depending arm 34 in parallel relation against the inner strand 18 thereby retaining the strands 20 and 18 in overlying relation and adding to the support of the outer strand 20 thereby providing a smooth appearance to the tie 12 and providing a neat and Well knotted tie from the ties which are constructed of certain materials which are extremely hard to provide with a proper knot and still have a neat drape to the strands thereof with the strands being retained in a smooth condition wherein the tie spreader of the present invention will eliminate such unnecessary wrinkles and unkempt appearances.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A necktie spreader of T-shaped configuration comprising a cross bar adapted to be disposed transversely in underlying relation to the outer tie strand adjacent the knot and spaced therebelow, means for releasably mounting the cross bar solely on the rear thickness of the material of the outer strand, an arm disposed in depending perpendicular relation to said bar and adapted to extend vertically between tie strands, and means for releasably mounting the arm to an inner tie strand for holding the strand in overlying relation with the cross bar maintaining an outer strand in spread condition with a smooth outer surface, said means for mounting the cross bar on an outer strand of material including a spring urged clamp means adjacent each end of the crossbar with each clamp means having pivotal clamp jaws mounted on the cross bar in forwardly projecting relation with handles for manipulating the jaws being disposed in spaced relation to the upper and lower surfaces of the cross bar.

2. A necktie spreader of T-shaped configuration comprising a cross bar adapted to be disposed transversely in underlying relation to the outer tie strand adjacent the knot and spaced therebelow, means for releasably mounting the cross bar solely on the rear thickness of the material of the outer strand, an arm disposed in depending perpendicular relation to said bar and adapted to extend vertically between tie strands, and means for releasably mounting the arm to an inner tie strand for holding the strand in overlying relation with the cross bar maintaining an outer strand .in spread condition with a smooth outer surface, said means for mounting the arm on an inner strand of material including a rearwardly extending pointed pin adjacent the .lower end of the arm for penetrating the :inner strand of material, and a keeper detachably mounted on said pin for positioning on the portion of the pin projecting through the material thereby locking the arm to the inner strand of the tie.

3. A necktie spreader of T-shaped configuration comprising a cross bar adapted to be disposed transversely in underlying relation to the outer tie strand vadjacent the .knot and spaced therebelow, laterally spaced means for releasably mounting the cross bar solely on the rear thickness of the material ofthe outer strand, an arm disposed in depending perpendicular relation to said bar and adapted to extend vertically between tie strands, and means for releasably mounting the arm .to an inner tie strand for-holding the strand in overlying relation with the cross bar maintaining an outer strand in spread condition with a smooth outer surface, said cross bar being arcuately bowed with a convex outer surface for providing a rounded outer surface on an outer strand of the tie.

4. A necktie spreader of T-shaped configuration comprising a cross bar adapted to be disposed transversely in underlying relation to the outer tie strand adjacent the knot and spaced therebelow,means for releasably mounting the cross bar solely on the rear thickness of the material of the outer strand, an arm disposed in depending perpendicular relation to said bar and adapted to extend vertically between tie strands, and means for releasably mounting the arm to an inner tie strand for holding the strand in overlying relation with the cross bar maintaining an outer strand in spread condition with a smooth outer surface, said means for mounting the cross bar on an outer strand of material including a spring urged clamp means adjacent each end of the crossbar with each clamp means having pivotal clamp jaws mounted on the cross bar in forwardly projecting relation with handles for manipulating the jaws being disposed in spaced relation to the upper and lower surfaces of the cross bar. said means for mounting the arm on an inner strand of material including a rearwardly extending pointed pin adjacent the lower end of the arm for penetrating an inner strand of material, and a keeper detachably mounted on said pin for positioning on the portion of the pin projecting through the material thereby locking the arm to an inner strand of the tie, said cross bar being arcuately bowed with a convex outer surface for providing a rounded outer surface on an outer strand of the tie.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,345,216 Narbett June 29, 1920 1,885,476 Pettit Nov. 1, 1932 2,430,943 Nelson Nov. 18, 1947 2,545,322 Tupy Mar. 13, 1951 2,589,036 Bender Mar. 11, 1952 2,755,530 Martin July 24, 1956 

